Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — The longest-tenured Jazzman wants to remain the longest-tenured Jazzman.
The Utah Jazz have a choice coming up this summer. They could waive Derrick Favors before July 5 to help open up enough cap space for a max slot or they could make his contract guaranteed and keep the player that has spent the last 8.5 seasons in Utah.
On Thursday, during the Jazz’s final media session of the 2018-19 season, Favors made it clear what he hopes happens come July.
“I’d prefer to come back here,” Favors said. “I need my team option picked up. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.”
The good news for Favors is that Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey appears to feel the same way.
When asked if the Jazz could afford to have both Favors and Rudy Gobert on the same roster, Lindsey’s head perked up.
“To me, that’s an easy one – absolutely,” Lindsey said.
Obviously, there's still a lot of time between now and the free agency, but, listening to Lindsey on Thursday, it was easy to get the impression that the only way the Jazz were going to part with Favors is if they had a significant free agent willing to sign.
That's because of how highly the Jazz value their longtime big man, which has been seen at each trade deadline over the last few years. Favors' name has always been thrown around the rumor mill, yet, he has remained. Utah has never thought the offers were fair compensation for the big man who serves as both a starting power forward and the league’s best backup center.
“No playoffs this year without Derrick, no playoff advancement the previous years,” Lindsey said. “As great and as unique as Rudy was at the rim, Derrick actually defended the deep paint on a percentage basis better.
“When we count our blessings, one of them, every night is thank the Lord for having two of the most unique defenders in the league,” Lindsey continued.
Favors has also shown the willingness to buy-in to what the Jazz want him to do.
Three years ago, Favors was struggling to stay healthy. He had a bone bruise, a knee injury, and was unable to stay on the court. He was also 274 pounds — and the Jazz felt that had something to with the string of injuries.
“We said, ‘Hey Derrick, you got a bone bruise, you are not 21 anymore, let’s cut this weight,’” Lindsey recalled.
So that's just what he did. Favors played at 248 pounds this season and that's allowed him to be quicker on the perimeters and have better lateral movement. And it’s helped with his health, too. Favors has missed just 11 games in the past two seasons.
“We are past the bone bruise,” Lindsey said. “We are very, very pleased with him and his maturity and his performance.”
While the spacing isn’t ideal with Favors and Gobert, the pair’s numbers are still a +4.5 when they share the floor together. But his biggest value comes more when Gobert isn’t on the court. Like when he’s collecting big offensive rebounds like in Utah’s lone playoff win this season, or pushing Utah to a Game 2 road win in the first round of last year’s playoffs.
“Derrick Favors isn’t part of the problem, he’s part of the solution,” Lindsey said.
As a summer of uncertainty looms for Favors, he said he hasn’t really wondered about other teams or his potential fit with them. He’s happy in Salt Lake — and he's hoping he'll be sticking around.
“Not too many guys can play for one franchise for eight seasons,” Favors said. “Hopefully it can be nine or 10 years. It is a blessing on my side because I don’t have to worry about moving all the time or worrying about what team I am going to be on.”
